Summary+of+Brazil

The first inhabitants of Brazil were people who had crossed the Bering Strait (Beringia) and migrated south to South America. Their recorded history began in 1500 after Portuguese colonists arrived in on the coast of Brazil. They were in search of a route to India but suspected land west of Africa. After disputes with Spain, the Treaty of Tordesillas, an agreement that divided the new lands in half, gave Portugal all land east of of the imaginary line in the "New World". Therefore when Sailor Pedro Alvares Cabral arrived on the Eastern coast of Brazil he gave Portugal a legal claim. Brazil was slow to colonize so French and Dutch groups attempted to take over the land but were driven out by the Portuguese. As the colonies expanded the colonists started using Africans and the natives as slaves. Many slaves were brought to Brazil over the years to work the vast land by Bandierantes (Portuguese colonial scouts) But soon though the colonists would find something special farther inland, gold. The founding of gold in Brazil caused a Gold Rush resulting in the colonie's quick growth. In 1808 Napoleon took over Spain and Portugal therefore the royal family fled to Brazil and created Rio de Janeiro as the capitol of the Portuguese empire. After the royal family returned to Portugal in 1821, Dom Pedro I was left to rule Brazil. After conflicts between Brazil and Portugal Dom Pedro I declared Brazil's Independence on September 7, 1822 and was crowned as emperor on December 1. Dom Pedro II was removed from office in 1889 when the military seized power of Brazil. The military was able to take control three more times with minimal violence. In 1930, with the help of the military, Getulio Vargas, a dictator, ruled for 15 years. Elected presidents served until 1964 before another military coup. In 1989 Fernando Collor de Mello became president but his corrupt and criminal doings soon became why he resigned in 1992. Since then the economy has slowly been revived and there has been many positive changes in the government.